With the Agenda 2030, the Federal Government is committed to a sustainable family policy. For World Women's Day on March 8th, the Research Center for Family-Friendly Personnel Policy is focusing on a central goal of this strategy: the further optimization of working conditions for working mothers.
The Federal Ministry for Family, Seniors, Women and Youth has set itself important goals with the recently published Agenda 2030 - Sustainable Family Policy: more partnership between fathers and mothers, greater economic stability for families and - very important! - the best possible reconciliation of work and family. The FFP supports this strategy in all respects.
At the regional level, the research center is already working specifically with the Chamber of Crafts to improve working conditions for women, especially mothers, on site.
Increase work volume and work quota
Among other things, the Agenda 2030 provides for the promotion of maternal employment. One direct goal: to increase both the volume of work and the quota of working mothers. An important effect: women, especially mothers, improve their living conditions through their gainful employment and their own income. For up to now, mothers in particular have often worked in precarious jobs for the sake of the family. The result is insecure conditions and insufficient old-age insurance, which can lead to poverty in old age.
Start at the base
In order for the nationwide proclaimed objective to become reality, it is important to start with the grassroots. The FFP accompanies the Center of Competence for Women and Professions in Münsterland, which is located at the Münster Chamber of Crafts and supports small and medium-sized enterprises in the Münsterland in improving the compatibility of work and family.
At the competence center, companies receive concrete information and assistance to make working conditions and typical job profiles more attractive for women.
For working mothers, the crucial linchpin is, of course, the compatibility of family and work, says Henning Stroers, Managing Director of the FFP. If mothers are able to combine the two central spheres - the job and their family responsibilities - well, they are happy to opt for a higher volume of work, as current studies, including our own research results, show.
Good working conditions, attractive jobs
Other factors that need to be moved include offers that young women, such as Make schoolchildren aware of the professional fields and opportunities for a career in small and medium-sized companies in the Münsterland. This is where the Competence Center for Women and Work in the Münsterland comes into play. We are working on showing companies their wide range of opportunities to attract young female employees - this includes overcoming stereotypes and creating new job profiles. We want to ensure that companies can attract and retain more young female talent. This applies in particular to areas of application in the fields of mathematics and natural sciences as well as in the skilled trades. Last but not least, this counteracts the shortage of skilled workers in these areas.